Salem and Ocean Lakes girls basketball programs get new coaches

Two prominent girls basketball programs had holes to fill this offseason.

Salem and Ocean Lakes, two programs who have made the state tournament in recent years, had coaching openings.

Donnie Stith left Salem to become a women's basketball assistant at Howard University, while Ocean Lakes' Hershel Mack resigned to pursue another career path.

The SunDevils promoted Kevin Harris, Salem's junior varsity coach the past three years, to varsity head coach.

"He's got a good demeanor with the kids," Salem athletic director Mark Harrison said. "I know that he's a gym rat and he puts his time in. He's smart, he's got institutional knowledge - he's a Salem grad. It was a win-win."

Stith in 2017 guided Salem to a region semifinal victory over perennial power Princess Anne and won the region championship on the way to a state tournament berth.

Ocean Lakes hired Lisa Merriweather, a former college athlete who was involved in AAU basketball in New Jersey.

A recent transplant from Jersey, Merriweather quickly won over Dolphins athletic director John Williams.

"When she interviewed, everything she said just made you smile," Williams said. "She's got a great interest in the kids, sportsmanship first, teamwork. She really didn't talk about winning but talked about the success of the girls on and off the court."

Under Mack, the Dolphins reached the program's first state tournament in 2017 and finished as region runner-up. Ocean Lakes made a second straight state appearance last season.

Ocean Lakes also made a boys basketball hire in Nick Mace, who will begin a second stint as the program's varsity coach after a two-year hiatus. He replaces Barry Fordham.

"He's a great student of the game," Williams said. "Very dedicated to the program and he really looks out for the interest of the students."

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Ray Nimmo is a sports reporter and has worked in the sports department since 2010. He covers high school sports, including volleyball, wrestling and soccer, and Norfolk State football. He also appreciates alliteration and a good pun.

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